Japan to join framework for Ukraine arms supply
Japan, a non-member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato), is set to announce its participation in a Nato-led framework to accelerate the purchase of US weapons to supply to Ukraine, sources close to the matter said on Tuesday.
Equipment bought with Japan’s contributions will be limited to nonlethal items such as vehicles and radar systems under the “Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List” (PURL) initiative, according to the Nato sources.
Among non-Nato nations, Australia and New Zealand joined the PURL framework in December. As a Nato partner like the two countries, Japan is expected to align with them in stepping up support for Ukraine, the sources said.
The sources said Japan’s involvement would be significant even if its contributions are limited to nonlethal equipment, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said on Tuesday that there is currently no agreement with Nato on Japan taking part in the PURL initiative.
Stalled support
Support for Ukraine from the United States, which Russia invaded in February 2022, stalled after President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, as he prioritized US interests and pressured allies to take on more of the burden.
With a focus on ensuring continued supplies to Ukraine of weapons that only the United States can provide, such as Patriot air defense systems, Washington and Nato agreed on the PURL framework in August last year.
A total of 23 countries, including 21 Nato members, have so far pledged more than $4 billion to the PURL initiative.
Since last summer, 75 percent of Patriot surface-to-air missiles and 90 percent of shells and ammunition for other air defense systems have been supplied under the scheme, Nato officials said.
******
Get real-time news updates: inqnews.net/inqviber
